Welcome to the GWTW Forum.Guests (non-registered users) can view the forum but are unable to post. If you don't have anything to say then why would you bother to register?One of the most popular sections of the GWTW Forum has long been the Swap Meet. A great place to sell old, seldom flown kites or to get great deals on used (gently flown) kites. Only registered users can see the Swap Meet section, let alone wheel and deal. 1000's (literally) of kites have changed hands thanks to the Swap Meet.There are several more benefits to being a registered user, but you'll have to join our little community to find out all the "secrets".Questions or concerns? Contact Steve ... just drop an email to: forum.gwtwkites@gmail.com

There should be a TP added on to the end of the AKA format and this NEEDS to be integrated into the AKA program - NOW. It failed in the NorthEAST because it was all by ITSELF.You would need to eliminate certain AKA program events like OIOU or where you have one or two teams competing among themselves which I really have to question their CURRENT WORTH - although I had the idea of flying a 2-3 minute dual kite OIOU routine next year in Wildwood blind-folded - sort of how I flew at Liberty recently . Some flyers say AKA events are not for every flyer. I agree based on the current format. I had one veteran flyer tell me the AKA does not want anything to do with trick flying at all - after what I consider a half decent ballet program perfromance in Wildwood and an unfortunate (my opinion) poor performance at Liberty the ballet program unquestionably requires alot of skill and preperation particuarly when the wind is not in your favor. I do not take part in Precision because at my beach where I practice most weekedns now flying 100-125' lines most of the times is not an option between June-September. So why compete in a flying practice I generally do not get to practice. Actually - I do find it boring. I would prefer to learn NEW tricks and perfect current trick combinations. This is my real passion in dual line kite flying - this of course is very time consuming.The current AKA format in my opinion in some ways is not comensurate with the current dual line sport kite which in my opinion is primarily MADE JUST TO TRICK. The current AKA events do bring fellowship with one another, imparts discipline into your bag and you get to see a good array of new kite designs, etc.. Discipline to me now being defined as a Master flyer told me recently in sticking with one kite design and learning it inside/out. You can never really get good by kite jumping. Who can argue. I think these AKA events also solidify this lesson. Precision & ballet programs indirectly do make you a good flyer I do see a limitation with lack of trick flying in your programs not being a real negative on your SCORE - I saw one Master Flyer recently fly nothing but straight lines in a recent ballet program and get a score of 60-something. He traveled around 500 miles just to do this ...What's going on here? Where are we going? What is the current measuring scale between NOVICE/EXPERIENCED/MASTER? Since we are down to threshold numbers in participants is any decision too risky for AKA event modifications? Maybe - as we could lose certain veterans that show up to these events. Although only at my third AKA event at Liberty is seems alot of people are living in the PAST. My only point - integrate TP into AKA - NOW! Actually - what little I know about quads - the current AKA format works fine for this kite design (precision & ballet) - but NOT for duals - NO WAY. DUALS - Ballet, Precision, TP. With TP as a flight option on the sign up form - who is really going to leave or get INTIMIDATED. Nobody.

It was a great effort though, but I do have to agree with those who are reminiscing about the old days that the time has come and gone. Look at the Lady in Red video and how it was on TV and then look up "Expert kite flyer" on youtube.

No offense to VF guys, whom I have major respect, but I think VF can potentially take away the desire to travel and what really got organized kiting started.

I think there should be a focus on recruiting and paving the way to create more festivals to get the fan base back and then reinvest the time into comps.

There should be a TP added on to the end of the AKA format and this NEEDS to be integrated into the AKA program - NOW. It failed in the NorthEAST because it was all by ITSELF.

IMO it didn't fail. We had a crew of fliers and staff who were quite dedicated to it, and for that we are grateful. We simply didn't have the energy or desire to market it further, and our interests were beginning to move away from kiting, so we chose to shut it down. We started TP-USA, and we made the decision to terminate it.

From the noticeable improvements in skill level I saw, and the good times people seemed to have competing in it, I'd hardly call it a "failure".

BTW, the most successful and enjoyable Tricks Parties were the standalone ones, not the ones we tried to shoehorn into an existing AKA event. Many of the things that make it enjoyable are the same things that make it incompatible with existing IRB style competition.

The goal here is to bring in more flyers and move away of putting the burden on a very small core group of INDEPENDENT experienced TP flyers if the TP was to come back here in the States. This burden should now belong with the AKA. In terms of the TP's I went to - only three - I consider them all equal in enjoyment - the TP run by Dave Smith & yourself in CT. with the novice class was KEY - in which the novice could pick any three tricks and then fly his TP ballet. I just think there are a few wasted events in the current AKA line-up which could be filled with a TP (Novice/Experienced) competition. A third dual line competing area along with ballet and precision has in my opinion come knocking on the door. Maybe failure is too strong a word ... its just ENDED ... unfortunately. This is something I would SUPPORT ... both with my time and money.

Our forum is made possible by the good folks whose ads appear above and by the members of our community (PayPal donation button at top)In case you missed it each ad is linked to the sponsors web site. So please, take a moment and visit our sponsors sites as this forum wouldn't be possible with out them.Interested in running an ad for your business or kiting event? Contact Steve at advertise.gwtwkites@gmail.com for a quote.